Crystal Field Theory (CFT)
- Ligands are treated as point charges.
- Only looks at electrostatic (charge) interactions with the metal.
- Explains:
- d-orbital splitting
- CFSE
- High-spin vs low-spin
- Does not explain covalent bonding.
Ligand Field Theory (LFT)
- Combines CFT with molecular orbital theory.
- Considers both electrostatic and covalent interactions.
- Explains everything CFT does, plus bonding, spectra, and magnetism more accurately.
In short: CFT is a simple model; LFT is a better model that includes covalent bonding.
Key Difference
- CFT: simple, only charges
- LFT: more realistic, includes bonding